All 4th and 5th grade students will participate in a Social Health Program on March 16, 2017. This program outlines the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty. Students will be shown appropriate films for their age group followed by a question and answer period. If you have any questions regarding the content of these films, please contact your child's school nurse at [email protected].

COMING SOON: SPRINGTIME ALLERGIES

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside-- It's allergy season again ! Here are some tips to help you cope:

• Keep your windows closed, especially at night. Pollen levels tend to be highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. If your child and other family members have seasonal allergies, run your air conditioner instead of opening windows.

• Have your child take a shower and change his clothes after he gets home. Pollen can stick to clothing and hair. It's also a good idea to get into the habit of having everyone remove their shoes when they get indoors.

• Keep track of pollen counts. If your child is sensitive, monitoring pollen levels can help you know when to limit outdoor exposure.

• Change your air filters. Change the air filters in your heating systems and air conditioners as directed by manufacturers' instructions.

• See your pediatrician. In some cases, what seems like an allergy to pollen may be caused by another culprit, such as dust mites or pet dander. The best way to pinpoint the allergen or allergens that are causing your child's symptoms is to have your child evaluated.

• Try some saline. If you want to try a natural alternative to allergy medications, talk to your doctor about using saline nose drops and saline drops for eyes. They can help rinse pollen out of your child's nasal passages and eyes. (Be sure to use simple saline, rather than medicated nasal solutions or eye drops. You should talk to your pediatrician before using any over-the-counter products and use only products that are meant to treat seasonal allergy symptoms in children.)

• Talk to your doctor about allergy medications. Depending on your child's age and symptoms, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antihistamines specifically dosed to safely treat children.